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Viktor Yanukovych: "Ukraine benefits from all what is in its national interests"
The Prime Minister's interview to the foreign media
23.08.2006, 13:15
There is only one photo on the wall in the Premier's office: of the President Viktor Yushchenko. However, it is not near the desk of the Head of Government or near the round conference table, it is visible only from one spot once you enter the office from a reception room. There is also Taras Shevchenko bust in the office, and a single oil painting of a Ukrainian pastoral scene.
Viktor Yanukovych gave an interview to the "BBC", Russian TV channel "RTR", news agency "ITAR-TASS" and American "The Associated Press".
BBC: Today the fuel and energy minister Yuriy Boyko is conducting talks in Moscow about the terms of the gas supplies to Ukraine in 2007. Will these terms again involve an intermediary company "RosUkrEnergo", which signed a contract with "Naftohaz Ukrayiny" at the start of this year? Will there be any intermediaries at all?
Viktor Yanukovych: My sense is that over the past year there has been reevaluation of the issue regarding "RosUkrEnergo". I did not look for "RosUkrEnergo" when I started working at my post on August 4, as I went straight to "Gazprom", Ukraine's direct partner, determining the gas supplies procedure. Now we conduct all talks with "Gazprom". The fuel and energy minister Yuriy Boyko is holding talks in Moscow about gas supplies in 2006 and 2007 also with "Gazprom". And I believe that, by large, it does not matter for Ukraine who will carry out these tasks, "Gazprom" or its subsidiary company.
However, if there is any talk that any company, designated by "Gazprom", will charge any operational commission in the process of the gas supplies, we will categorically oppose that. Presently I have no questions yet to "Gazprom" regarding that.
I believe that it does not matter for Ukraine who executes the contract. I held direct talks with the Russian Prime Minister who issued instructions to "Gazprom". As far as I know, President Putin also gave instructions to begin talks with Ukraine at the level of the fuel and energy ministry and "Gazprom". So, this issue should not be politicized today.
The main thing is the price and balance of gas. First of all, we have to pump 24 billion cubic meters of gas into our reservoirs. Every day we pump in 130 million cubic meters of gas. And Europe should know it and feel reassured that we will not siphon off the European gas from the pipeline in winter. We will have enough gas that we will pump into our gas reservoirs.
RTR: What is your attitude to the idea that the gas price should be determined according to the market mechanisms, as "Gazprom" proposes?
Viktor Yanukovych: Now the entire world lives according to these rules. Ukraine has been on the path of the market reforms for the past 15 years. Therefore, we do not make any exceptions for ourselves. It is another matter that we have some questions to our partners. I would say that these are questions relating to correctness in our relations. We would like to see our relations with partners always predictable and transparent, first and foremost in the pricing policy. We do not have any other questions.
The Associated Press: Now Ukraine is neither in the European Union nor in the Single Economic Space. Which of these two unions Ukraine can join during the next several years?
Viktor Yanukovych: Ukraine benefits from all what is in its national interests. Hence, we will take part in all integration processes, wherever our national interest lies. As for integration into EU, it is a strategic issue. Incidentally such a decision was approved by my party long ago, in 1997: that the Party of Regions supports integration into the European Union, and that it will engage in undertaking this complicated task.
However, it is not only a matter of the political will, but also of a broad set of issues, such as reform of the economy, and adjustment to the EU legislation. And the main thing is introduction of the European-style living standards. Only once we achieve that, we will be able to realistically set the task of joining EU and filing a formal application. As of now, Ukrainians have yet a lot to do before Ukraine is able to join EU.
ITAR-TASS: How will the language issue be solved in Ukraine? There is a constant argument between you and President Viktor Yushchenko over this topic. Does not it distract you from the other, more pressing problems which have to be addressed by power?
Viktor Yanukovych: This issue always comes to the fore during election campaigns. And it is not just a coincidence, because the language issue exists not only at the level of politicians but also common people. They encounter various inconveniences, created by officials who overdo it in terms of the use of the Ukrainian language in the Russian speaking areas.
I would put it in the following way: In the South-Eastern regions there is no problem of the Russian language. There is a problem of the Ukrainian language. It is the Ukrainian language which needs a State program for its development. What is also necessary is legislation on languages which would clarify the procedures for the use of languages.
I can unequivocally assure that once politicians stop exploiting this issue, people will easily find common language. The next elections are yet far away, and I hope politicians will not focus attention on this issue. However, legislation on languages is necessary, and we will do our best to make sure that the parliament adopts it. Also it is mandatory to see to it that the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is applied in practice.
The Associated Press: How will relations between Ukraine and NATO develop? Can one talk of Ukraine's entry into the Alliance, and what will be Ukraine's steps towards this union?
Viktor Yanukovych: Now Ukraine has a very high level of cooperation with NATO, and presently we believe that this cooperation should be continued and deepened. There are appropriate conditions for that, and Ukraine is interested in that.
As for Ukraine's entry into NATO, we believe that at the present stage, it is yet a premature issue from the standpoint of the Ukrainian people, because most Ukrainians do not support the entry.
And we, as politicians, should now create appropriate conditions for extensively informing the public, so that people know what kind of bloc it is, its history, and Ukraine's interests in cooperation with the Alliance. And now there are many programs of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, and we will support them.
BBC: Lately only representatives of your political group, people who are close to Rinat Akhmetov or you, have obtained leading posts in the fuel and energy sector. Generally this personnel policy is reminiscent of the early 2005, when Yushchenko's team tried to completely replace all officials in the executive branch of government. So you are following their example?
Viktor Yanukovych: There are international standards of forming the government. Primarily it reflects the proportional composition of the coalition. The Party of Regions has the largest share, over 50% of seats, and numerically it is much larger than the factions of the Socialist Party or the Communist Party.
"Our Ukraine" has not yet joined the coalition. They only provided 30 votes "for" in support of the Prime Minister, and 28 votes "for" in favor of the Government. So, relations with "Our Ukraine' have not yet been finally defined, and in September we will try to define them.
As far as composition of the Government is concerned, the Party of Regions has not increased its quota. And it is our internal issue who will hold what posts. And it is up to the coalition to apportion posts, scope of authority and, above all, scope of responsibility.
However, one should bear in mind the following: The main responsibility for the Government's work lies on the Prime Minister. And I have an ultimate say in determining who works at what post and in what area, as I bear political responsibility before the people and the coalition. | |
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